In this teaching, Sheikh Mehmed Adil explains that the foundation of every Sufi path is adab: good conduct towards Allah, His Messenger (peace be upon him) and all of creation. Before any other instruction can take root, a seeker must first cultivate humility, gratitude and sincerity towards the Divine.
Adab begins with remembering Allah’s endless blessings and refraining from complaint. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught, “Everything that Allah gives is good.” Even circumstances that feel difficult or harmful are tests meant to refine the heart. The proper response is therefore not lamentation but a humble request: “O Lord, grant us of Your favour,” trusting that Allah can turn hardship into ease. Rather than asking only for patience, which may seem out of reach, the Sheikh encourages asking for ihsan (excellence and beneficence), which opens the way for divine help to make what is hard become easy.
He also recalls the legacy of Grand Sheikh Abdullah, whose intimate gatherings produced thousands of recorded sohbets (spiritual sayings). Written down with great care by Sheikh Nazim, these words spread across East and West, showing how a community rooted in adab carries wisdom far beyond its own circle.
For members of the Royal Ottoman Society, living this first rule means:
- Constantly recalling Allah’s generosity.
- Responding to every circumstance with gratitude instead of complaint.
- Asking for divine help towards ease rather than merely for endurance.
Through this practice we honour the Tariqa’s first command and open ourselves to higher stations on the spiritual journey.
For further reflection and discussion, you are welcome to visit our community page. May Allah accept our efforts, turn difficulties into ease and keep us steadfast on the path of adab.
